McConnell, Jones, Lanier & Murphy - a Houston consulting firm in which Lanier, who lives in Houston, is a partner - has also been named in the lawsuit filed last week.

According to the Chronicle, the Harris County Housing Authority sued Lanier, his firm as well as another consulting firm and Casey Wallace - who, like Lanier, is a former board chair for the housing authority.

The lawsuit alleged, according to the Chronicle, "negligence and breach of fiduciary duty to taxpayers in overseeing or managing millions of dollars in federal funds meant to assist the needy."

Keith Grady, an attorney for the housing authority, told the Chronicle that "$30 million is a good start" in damages that are hoped to be recovered in the lawsuit, which matches money the housing authority may have to repay to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development, according to federal auditors.